Trigger in sps dominated tank

untamed · #1 10-21-2009, 12:36 AM

While I support that Blue Throat Triggers are reef safe, my experience with them isn't good. I had a male, and still have a female and both seem(ed) unsuitable for captivity.

Unless it is feeding time, they spend 100% of the time doing repetitive swim patterns trying to escape the tank. My male Blue Throat is famous for wearing a scratch pattern in the tank. At least my female changes her route every few days.

Either I have had incredibly bad luck with these fish...or something about my tank size (400 gallons) or feed, or tankmates, doesn't work for them...or they are just not fish suitable for keeping in aquariums. Both are (were) extremely healthy fish.

So my advice with these fish is to ensure that you purchase the smallest, youngest fish you can find. Maybe then you'll have better luck than me.

reef bound · #2 10-21-2009, 04:33 AM

We have a niger trigger in our 180g right now. We got him about a year ago and in that year he has grown from about 2 1/2 or 3" to about 7". (He's going back to his 220g original home shortly). We have a few pieces of sps, but other than an accidental fragging of the green digi, he doesn't bother with nipping anything. He does take the odd snail for a ride, though. Picks them off the wall every so often, swims around with them in his mouth for a bit, then drops them. Also, he moves frags around if they're not glued down. He's really quite the character. Beautiful fish.
We also have a coral beauty angel and I haven't noticed any nipping from him. A model citizen for about a year now. I find he isn't as social as other fish, but nonetheless, a nice splash of color.
We've got 3 clams in the tank also, and neither fish bother them.